Option: For those short on time, go to the 231 15th St. Historical Gallery and find these photos (Enjoy the others too).
Coords will be: N32 57.ABC W117 16.DEF
1."Menu" photo; Cost of Lobster Dinner. 2nd number = A ___
2."Rock Haus" photo; Sum of the 2 numbers = B ___
3. First So. CA Railway "Red Flag" Station; 2nd number of year built = C ___
4. "Mickey Rooney" photo; Last number of the year he flew to Del Mar most summer days = D ___
5. "Grand Ole Lady" (Hotel Del Mar); Last number of year demolished = E ___
6. "Plunge" photo. 2nd number of year of fire = F ___
For the full tour: The remodeled hotel is now open. Visitors and locals...learn about the history of Del Mar and pick up a cache too. Although we live in San Diego, every year we spend a week in Del Mar at the beach. We always enjoy the town and the things you will see on this tour. Since there was a lack of caches in this area, we decided to finally get around to planting one. Please allow time to do this as it should not be a “quickie” cache. Summers will be busy and parking hard to find, but other times of the year can be beautiful with free parking in the area. You can always park at the shopping plaza (across from the hotel) which I think is validated with a purchase or metered parking at the L’Auberge Hotel .
Del Mar was named by Ella Loop after a popular poem titled “The Flight on Paseo Del Mar". Her husband, Theodore worked for the railroad which began coming to San Diego in 1882. He fell in love with the area and built a tent city on the beach. Around 1910 the Stratford Inn was built and the moment it opened its doors, the hotel became a magnet for Hollywood stars.
- Now to start your historical visit of Del Mar via old photos and remaining buildings. At the given coordinates, look carefully (NNW) at the scene, also noting the rusted metal railing and the original concrete path in front of you. A gate has been installed recently so you will have to walk up the path, until you see what is now the “Del Mar Surf Station” (unless you saw it when walking up the stairs). Remember what you see here. From the gate, follow the concrete path up the hill to the back side of the L’Auberge Hotel (N32 57.626 W117 15.980). This hotel was built in 1988 in the same spot the Hotel Del Mar was built. Go up the walkway and enter the hotel, turn right, down the hall to the south wing. You will find a galley of old photos here. Take time to view these and learn about Del Mar in its early years. Find the photo that shows what you just saw, (1st photo on your left) but taken many years ago. Note the year the building was built.
B = The 2nd number in this date _______.
- Next go south to corner of 15th and Camino Del Mar,(a restaurant)and find the building that used to be the drug store.(If interested, the north wing has another galley of old photos with a photo that shows the old drugstore in Stratford Square which was built in 1927. What is the current address of the restaurant that is now there on Camino Del Mar?
C = The sum of the 2nd and 4th numbers _____ .
- Continue south on Camino Del Mar to 13th St., then cross Camino Del Mar. This building was originally St James Church, then the Albatross restaurant and you can see what it is now. While standing at approximately these coordinates: N32 57.464 W117 15.867, face the building, at the bottom of the stairs. Find the bottom, first fish on the right side.
F = the number of letters in the 1st word (starts with an F), written on the fish _____.
- Continue walking north to 15th street, turn right and walk a block up the hill to the “Rock Haus”. During Prohibition, gambling, prostitution and rum running were rampant in this house. It was full of secret passages. Find the address of this house. ( currently on-going restoration on the house, but number is there)
E = The last number ______
- Head back down the hill, back to Stratford Square. On the south side at 231 15th St. you will find the Historical Gallery (32 57.569 and 117 15.938). Go through the double doors and you will find more interesting old photos. Notice the old photos of the places you have already visited. NOTE: These doors are locked at 5pm but you can still enter through several of the stores that open into it. Find the answers to these questions:
How much did a complete Lobster dinner cost at the Hotel Del Mar in 1937?
G = The 2nd number ______
D = The 1st plus the 2nd number ______
What year was the first train station built?
A = The last number _______
- Fill in the coordinates: N32 57. ABC and W117 1D. EFG. At this location, which is another historical landmark (no need to go inside building), find out what year people began laboring to make the vision of this place a reality.
Subtract 1408 from that number to give you the last 3 numbers of N coords. N32 57. __ __ __
What day in December was the building dedicated? Add that number to the W coords you already have. W117 1__. __ __ __
- Now find the cache. It is a m&m tube, and well camouflaged.You will not need to walk on or disturb any plants! You are probably looking right at it, so use your geo instincts. There are benches and a nice view of the ocean if you have to wait for muggles to pass.
1/13 Be sure and see the new "Del Mar History" plaque by the lifeguard stand next to the restaurants on the beach.